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Losing two owners' hosses including the promising Hoss who was a neck second in last seasons Scottish champion hurdle.
Lost a couple to Skelters. Including a very promising one.
That'll smart.
That'll smart.
some people are so naive sending them to skelton...at least they didnt let him buy them for some fictious price
Nicholls has nothing to worry , he is top class trainer , a man that suffers no fools he'll have no problems
bravemans game gone to france, i hope he,s got the ferry if he,s trotting there, the ways he,s been running take him 10 yrs to get there
Mics will be on here slagging him off from his hole to his pole by November.
I'll be 'ere to remind you mics
I'll be 'ere to remind you mics
He's a busted flush. I'm sure Megan will source replacements
Among the departures from Ditcheat are Scottish Champion Hurdle runner-up Kabral Du Mathan, who has moved to Dan Skelton, while Nicky Henderson is the new trainer of Ginny's Destiny, who won three races on the trot at Cheltenham during the 2023-2024 season before chasing home Grey Dawning in the final running of the Turners Novices' Chase at the festival.
The owners of Kabral Du Mathan – Neil and Alfie Smith – have also switched the 120-rated hurdler Farland to Skelton, while Don't Tell Su, who runs in the same Ginny's Destiny colours of Gordon and Su Hall, is now in the care of Henderson.
Impressive Taunton bumper winner Act Of Innocence has also left Nicholls, as has Sinnatra, who won a Chepstow bumper on his debut but has now also switched to Skelton.
While understandably disappointed by the departures, the 14-time champion trainer was not too despondent and still believes a big season is in store for the stable.
Nicholls told the Racing Post: "It's obviously disappointing to lose some lovely young horses and I have to say I was really looking forward to the new season with them, but that's the game we're in and any owner is entitled to send their horses wherever they want, so I wish them well.
"I wish their new trainers all the very best and I've no doubt they will have plenty of fun with them, especially Kabral Du Mathan, who never finished out of the first two for us and almost won a Scottish Champion Hurdle. He's lovely, as is Sinnatra, who I have no doubt has a very bright future."
The trainer added: "We had some terrific days with Gordon and Su Hall, too, especially with Truckers Lodge and Ginny's Destiny. He won all those races at Cheltenham the season before last and was magic around there when on song. He was some sight in full flow and Harry [Cobden] got on great with him. It just didn't happen for him last season but that can happen when you step out of novice company."
Nicholls was philosophical about the decision of the owners and recalled something the late Paul Barber, joint-owner of the mighty Denman, told him before he died.
Nicholls said: "When things like this happen I always think of Paul Barber and he used to say to me, 'Paul, any man can win, but it takes a good man to lose.' Those were very wise words.
"Look, as I said, it's disappointing, but we still have some fabulous young horses like Caldwell Potter, Kalif Du Berlais, Regent's Stroll and Blueking D'Oroux coming through with their best years ahead of them.
"It's a shame to lose the horses we have but I've been in the game long enough to take these things on the chin and bounce back. I know we have a lovely team of young horses to look forward to for the season ahead and there is a real buzz around Ditcheat at the moment. Bring it on!’’
maybe not yet the 'busted flush' but the best cards in the pack be getting further from his grasp.
The owners of Kabral Du Mathan – Neil and Alfie Smith – have also switched the 120-rated hurdler Farland to Skelton, while Don't Tell Su, who runs in the same Ginny's Destiny colours of Gordon and Su Hall, is now in the care of Henderson.
Impressive Taunton bumper winner Act Of Innocence has also left Nicholls, as has Sinnatra, who won a Chepstow bumper on his debut but has now also switched to Skelton.
While understandably disappointed by the departures, the 14-time champion trainer was not too despondent and still believes a big season is in store for the stable.
Nicholls told the Racing Post: "It's obviously disappointing to lose some lovely young horses and I have to say I was really looking forward to the new season with them, but that's the game we're in and any owner is entitled to send their horses wherever they want, so I wish them well.
"I wish their new trainers all the very best and I've no doubt they will have plenty of fun with them, especially Kabral Du Mathan, who never finished out of the first two for us and almost won a Scottish Champion Hurdle. He's lovely, as is Sinnatra, who I have no doubt has a very bright future."
The trainer added: "We had some terrific days with Gordon and Su Hall, too, especially with Truckers Lodge and Ginny's Destiny. He won all those races at Cheltenham the season before last and was magic around there when on song. He was some sight in full flow and Harry [Cobden] got on great with him. It just didn't happen for him last season but that can happen when you step out of novice company."
Nicholls was philosophical about the decision of the owners and recalled something the late Paul Barber, joint-owner of the mighty Denman, told him before he died.
Nicholls said: "When things like this happen I always think of Paul Barber and he used to say to me, 'Paul, any man can win, but it takes a good man to lose.' Those were very wise words.
"Look, as I said, it's disappointing, but we still have some fabulous young horses like Caldwell Potter, Kalif Du Berlais, Regent's Stroll and Blueking D'Oroux coming through with their best years ahead of them.
"It's a shame to lose the horses we have but I've been in the game long enough to take these things on the chin and bounce back. I know we have a lovely team of young horses to look forward to for the season ahead and there is a real buzz around Ditcheat at the moment. Bring it on!’’
maybe not yet the 'busted flush' but the best cards in the pack be getting further from his grasp.
A very clever statement. Good luck to him in the coming season.
It will be very interesting to see how these horses do in their new surroundings.
It will be very interesting to see how these horses do in their new surroundings.
May need a 'superstar' to put him back where he wa/feels he belongs.
Current signs are that his star is fading.
'appens to 'em all.
Current signs are that his star is fading.
'appens to 'em all.
I always feel with Nicholls he is a man that calls it as it is , he doesn't suffer fools , u could see why the rift happens with Jacob, Jacob lovely lad but everything always great all the time , nichols a man to get root of issues not a carefree bloke , that's what u want as owner a man that pull no punches, he seen too that Sammy wasn't up to job and dealt with it likewise Jacob
Sry to hear that mate. I read the story of one trusting owner and it painted an unpleasant picture. It all seems to have been airbrushed away into the ether.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Somewhat surprising. From a punters perspective, mostly found him ultra reliable at delivering a results from his best horses. I beleive his Cheltenham festival record has been on the wane in recent years; nowadays he targets the Aintree GN meeting very successfully.
regarding mics ,the forum wouldn't be the same without a resident ranter, quite entertaining really , has he had a pop at the starter yet ?
Jul 25, 2025 -- 11:41PM, Mics wrote:
I always feel with Nicholls he is a man that calls it as it is , he doesn't suffer fools , u could see why the rift happens with Jacob,
You’re right Mics, he doesn’t. It’s a wonder why owners like the King and other British ones aren’t sending their horses to him?
Jacob virtually admitted to not having the bottle for the position.
Loyal did the story paint him in a bad light?
Jacob virtually admitted to not having the bottle for the position.
Loyal did the story paint him in a bad light?
He made a funny comment about Dan Skelton not being able to get beyond page 3 when “reading” the paper, so he’s not without humour!
Losing inmates? Where have they gone? Another equine sanatorium?
Having had a share in a horse at Ditcheat, I have nothing bad to say about P Nicholls or Clifford Baker. They had a disappointing last season so not a total surprise that some owners want to move. No idea who the Smiths are but they spent a lot of money. I wish them luck with Skelton. I would not under any circumstances move an older horse to Henderson.
Thanks for sharing your experience, he’s not forgotten how to train and I hope he’ll find better horses and owners to compete again. He’s taught Skelts well.
It’s like getting in the builders, some will say good, while other customers will say bad, it always takes two however and not all relationships in business are smooth sailing.
It’s like getting in the builders, some will say good, while other customers will say bad, it always takes two however and not all relationships in business are smooth sailing.
hendo eas sent alot of 2nd tier horse 2 seasons ago including some surrey prerfix horses and didnt do much cop with them, i,d guess theres at leat 2,3 tiers of hendo training regime ,or probably only one tier chelt horses and the rest
I hope Skelton hasn't been touting for business again offering to train top class horses for free as he did a decade ago pertaining to a Dorset trainers superstar horse. When the trainer found out from his owner he pinned Skelton against the wall in the Newton Abbott weighing room tell8ng him if it locate to pass he would be training the superstar from a wheelchair.
I've been in the game long enough to take these things on the chin
Which one?
Which one?
Yes Dela. I think it was enquired into but can’t remember the outcome. He still has a licence anyway. It was more than whiffy. I’m sure you could locate the sad tale in historical press.
Wouldn't have been hoss with the initials CC would it? Trained by the most popular farmer in the country and now his son doing the job?
Thread here about the Skelton case:
https://community.betfair.com/horse_racing/go/thread/view/94102/31835869/chris-cook-on-dan-skelton-case?liveView=0
https://community.betfair.com/horse_racing/go/thread/view/94102/31835869/chris-cook-on-dan-skelton-case?liveView=0
Did a very good job with Caldwell Potter to win at both Cheltenham and Aintree festivals.
Lot of people saying it was a flop prior and a waste of money, but a shrewd bit of training. Probably knew he was a hcap good thing and wanted to make sure he gave the high spending owners a Cheltenham winner. Backed it up with a G1 at Aintree.
Would like to see him have a very good one again as Kauto, Denman and Master Minded were brilliant chasers and good for the sport as the public loved them.
Wonder if something has happened recently that caused the owners to move?
Lot of people saying it was a flop prior and a waste of money, but a shrewd bit of training. Probably knew he was a hcap good thing and wanted to make sure he gave the high spending owners a Cheltenham winner. Backed it up with a G1 at Aintree.
Would like to see him have a very good one again as Kauto, Denman and Master Minded were brilliant chasers and good for the sport as the public loved them.
Wonder if something has happened recently that caused the owners to move?
Cant get too excited about a Nicholls/Skelton/Henderson roundabout ....
Seems to be smaller owners, not a big outfit moving a big number, so maybe it's just something as simple as a big hike in training fees and then you have a look around at other trainers prices? I guess in the current climate there may be a lot of variation in what trainers are having to put prices up by?
you think hendo has cheaper training fees nthan pumpkin ?
I assume the psychology of some owners is if they have significant success with a horse, then that has set the benchmark and they expect it to be repeated. GD looked pretty promising and had a disappointing season compared to the previous one. Most likely He improved for Pumpkin's system and that scope has been used up. Pumpkin has been the best jumps trainer in the UK for extracting improvement out of good horses that look exposed (without cheating), I'd say it's pretty unlikely someone else will be able to improve on that.
By his own admission, Nicholls had a poor season. Perhaps a bug, perhaps just chance. Neil and Alfie Smith arrived with about 11 horses in late 2023 and early 2024 and 8 of the 11 have won, all with Nicholls. Ioupy Collanges, Kabral Du Mathan, Liari, The Bluesman probably the best ones.
Ginny's Destiny went from a great season to a disappointing one once out of novice company but that is hardly unusual. Time will tell if he can recover form elsewhere.
Ginny's Destiny went from a great season to a disappointing one once out of novice company but that is hardly unusual. Time will tell if he can recover form elsewhere.
nichols picked ginnys destiny up from another yd,got run of race from the front in a few chelt races 2 seasons back,and last yr wasnt good enough in those 3 pre xmas chelt 20 f races, she,ll be in same 3 races again this yr and they,ll be half a dozen each time to good
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